Foot rest holder for wheelchairs

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding a wheelchair&#39;s footrests when not in use. The apparatus comprises a first member having a substantially flat center portion and an arcuate portion formed on each side thereof. A second member having a substantially identical shape to such first member and engageable with the first member at the flat center portion. Such arcuate portions form a clamp on a first end of the substantially flat center portion and form a clip member on an opposite end of the flat portion, such clip member having arcuate portions formed on an outer edge thereof for engagement with a footrest of such wheelchair when such footrests are not in use. There is a bolt and nut arrangement for securing such first member to such second member and a nut and bolt arrangement for securing the apparatus to the rear upright post of such wheelchair.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a foot rest holder, and,more particularly, the present invention relates to a foot rest holderfor wheelchairs that provides storage for such foot rest when not in usewhich permits such foot rest to remain with the wheelchair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When not in use many wheelchair footrests are removed for convenience.The footrests are then placed under the bed, in a closet, in drawers orany other easy accessible location. Unfortunately, when it comes time toreplace the footrests for use when they are needed, they invariablycannot be found. Some people cannot remember the location where thefootrests were stored or some one has moved the footrests. So the wheelchair user needs the footrests but they are unavailable. Thisfrustrating occurrence happens quite frequently in hospitals, privatecare homes, nursing homes and other locations that serve a variety ofwheelchair bound individuals, not to mention even in private residences.This is particularly true in places such as nursing homes or similarcare homes where one nurse or aide may remove the footrests and thenlater another nurse or aide is present when the footrests are needed butis not aware of where the other aide or nurse has put the footrests.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means available thatwould provide the wheelchair user or the attendant involved with thewheelchair user to keep the footrests of the wheelchair with the wheelchair when not being used so as to insure that they will be availablewhen needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus forholding a wheelchair's footrests when not in use. The apparatuscomprises such footrests are not in use, said apparatus comprises afirst member having a substantially flat center portion and an arcuateportion formed on each side of the substantially flat center portion,such first member is formed of a first predetermined material. A secondmember is formed of a second predetermined material and is engageablewith the first member, such second member has substantially an identicalshape as such first member, the second member is engageable with thefirst member at such substantially flat center portion, the arcuateportions of such first member and such second member formingsubstantially a clamp member on a first end of the substantially flatcenter portion for engagement with a rear upright post of such wheelchair. A second arcuate portion formed on a second end of thesubstantially flat center portion has arcuate portions formed on anouter end of the second arcuate portion thereby forming a clip memberfor engagement with an upright member of such footrest of such wheelchair for securing such footrest when such footrest is not in use. Thereis a first means for securing the substantially flat center portion ofthe first member to the substantially flat center portion of the secondmember and a second means for securing the apparatus to such rearupright post of such wheel chair.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide an apparatus for storing footrests for a wheelchair with thewheel chair when the footrests are not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forstoring footrests when not in use that is easily affixed to awheelchair.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusthat stores such foot rests with the wheelchair when not in use so as toprevent misplacing the foot rests.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusin which the foot rests of a wheelchair are easily secured and removedfrom the apparatus.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for storing foot rests of a wheel chair when not in use inwhich the foot rest merely snaps on to the apparatus.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent after a full reading of the following detaileddescription, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attacheddrawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for storing a footrest ofa wheel chair

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus for storing a footrest ofa wheel chair attached to a rear upright post of a wheel chair.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus for storing a footrest ofa wheel chair showing the apparatus attached to a rear upright post of awheel chair storing such footrest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTSOF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identicalcomponents which have identical functions have been designated byidentical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated inthe drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generallydesignated 10, for holding a wheelchair's footrests 2 when suchfootrests are not in use. The apparatus 10 comprises a first member 4having a substantially flat center portion 6 and an arcuate portionformed on each side of the substantially flat center portion 6, suchfirst member 4 is formed of a first predetermined material. A secondmember 8 is formed of a second predetermined material and is engageablewith the first member 4, such second member 8 has substantially anidentical shape as such first member 4, the second member 8 isengageable with the first member 4 at such substantially flat centerportion 6, the arcuate portions of such first member 4 and such secondmember 8 forming substantially a clamp member 12 on a first end of thesubstantially flat center portion 6 for engagement with a rear uprightpost 14 of such wheel chair. A second arcuate portion formed on a secondend of the substantially flat center portion 6 has arcuate portions 16formed on an outer end of the second arcuate portion thereby forming aclip member 18 for engagement with an upright member 22 of such footrest2 of such wheel chair for securing such footrest 2 when such footrest 2is not in use. There is a first means, generally designated 20, forsecuring the substantially flat center portion 6 of the first member 4to the substantially flat center portion 6 of the second member 8 and asecond means, generally designated 30, for securing the apparatus 10 tosuch rear upright post 14 of such wheel chair for holding a wheelchair'sfootrests 2 when not in use.

Such second means 30 further includes a predrilled aperture 24 insubstantially a center portion of such clamp member 12 on the first endof the substantially flat center portion 6 for receiving a bolt 26 andis further engageable with an aperture in such rear upright post 14 forsecuring the apparatus 10 to such rear upright post 14 of such wheelchair.

Such first means 20 includes a predrilled hole 28 in the substantiallyflat center portion 6 of such first member 4 and such second member 8.Such first means 20 further includes a nut and bolt 32 arrangement forengagement with the predrilled hole 28 in the substantially flat centerportion 6 of such first member 4 and such second member 8 for securingsuch first member 4 to such second member 8.

It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material isspring steel. It is also preferred that such second predeterminedmaterial is also spring steel.

Because of the shape of the clip member 18 it is simple to push theupright member 22 of the footrest 2 onto the clip member 18 by simplypushing against the outer edges of the clip member 18 and because suchclip member 18 is made of spring steel the ends of the clip member 18expand when the upright member 22 of the footrest 2 is pushed in andthen contract after the footrest 2 is in place.

It is presently preferred that such clamp member 12 has a diameter ofbetween about ⅞ inch and about 1⅛ inches so as to fit securely on therear upright post 14 of the wheelchair.

It is also preferred that such flat center portion 6 of the first member4 and the second member 8 is between about ⅝ inch and about ⅞ inch. Alsoit is preferred that such clip member 18 measures between about 1⅛ inchand about 1⅜ inch from an edge of the substantially flat center portion6 to an outer edge of the arcuate portions 16 formed on an outer edge ofthe clip member 18.

In normal usage there will be two such apparatuses 10 since there aretwo footrests 2 on each wheelchair.

It is presently preferred that such bolt 26 further includes a curvedwasher 34 for engagement with the rear upright post 14 of suchwheelchair and with a nut 36 for securing the bolt 26.

FIG. 3 shows the footrest 2 in the stored position on the back of thewheelchair. Normally the foot portion of the footrest 2 would be foldedup so it would be completely out of the way but it is shown in FIG. 3 ina down position so as to more clearly see the upright member 22 and theclip member 18 holding the footrest 2.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention such apparatus 10 is furthercoated with a material to prevent scratches on the foot rests 2. Suchmaterial is a plastic coating which can be coated when the apparatus isbeing formed or sprayed onto the apparatus at a later time.

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus 10 for storing thefootrests 2 of a wheelchair with the wheel chair when not in use. Suchfootrests 2 are usually removed from the wheelchair when not in use.This would be when the wheelchair is used by the individual as simply achair or is being self propelled by the user in which case the footrests2 are an impediment as the user's feet simply are on the floor and theuser basically moves his/her feet while propelling the wheelchair withthe hand rim of the wheelchair. However, when the wheelchair is beingpushed by another individual it is important that the patient's(wheelchair user's) feet are resting on the footrests so as not toimpede the movement of the wheelchair, otherwise the user must eitherhold his/her feet off the ground or move the feet as fast as thewheelchair is being propelled which is very difficult and tiring for theindividual. Unfortunately, such footrests are not always readilyaccessible either because the user forgot where they were put or in thecase of a hospital, nursing home, personal care home or whatever, thenurse or aide that is to push the wheelchair cannot find where someother aide put them after they were last used. With the presentinvention an apparatus 10 is placed on the rear upright posts 14 of thewheelchair and such footrest 2 are just clipped onto the clip member 18to store the footrests 2 and thus, the footrests 2 are always available.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of thepresent invention has been described in detail above, it should beunderstood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of theinvention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled inthe art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for holding a wheelchair's footrests when not in use,said apparatus comprising: (a) a first member having a substantiallyflat center portion and an arcuate portion formed on each side of saidsubstantially flat center portion, said first member formed of a firstpredetermined material; (b) a second member formed of a secondpredetermined material engageable with said first member and havingsubstantially an identical shape as said first member, said secondmember engageable with said first member at said substantially flatcenter portion, said arcuate portions of said first member and saidsecond member forming substantially a clamp member on a first end ofsaid substantially flat center portion for engagement with a rearupright post of such wheel chair; (c) a second arcuate portion formed ona second end of said substantially flat center portion having arcuateportions formed on an outer end of said second arcuate portion therebyforming a clip member for engagement with an upright member of suchfootrest of such wheel chair for securing such footrest when suchfootrest is not in use; (d) a first means for securing saidsubstantially flat center portion of said first member to saidsubstantially flat center portion of said second member; and (e) asecond means for securing said apparatus with such rear upright post ofsuch wheel chair.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidsecond means further includes a predrilled aperture in substantially acenter portion of said clamp member on said first end of saidsubstantially flat center portion for receiving a bolt furtherengageable with an aperture in such rear upright post for securing saidapparatus to such rear upright post of such wheel chair.
 3. Theapparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes apredrilled hole in said substantially flat center portion of said firstand said second member.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, whereinsaid first means further includes a nut and bolt arrangement forengagement with said predrilled hole in said substantially flat centerportion of said first member and said second member for securing saidfirst member to said second member.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim1, wherein said first predetermined material is spring steel.
 6. Theapparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said second predeterminedmaterial is spring steel.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 1,wherein said clamp member has a diameter of between about ⅞ inch andabout 1⅛ inches.
 8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein saidflat center portion of said first member and said second member isbetween about ⅝ inch and about ⅞ inch.
 9. The apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said clip member measures between about 1⅛ inch andabout 1⅜ inch from an edge of said substantially flat center portion toan outer edge of said arcuate portions formed on an outer edge of saidsecond arcuate portions.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim 1,wherein said apparatus includes two separate apparatuses for holding afootrest of a wheelchair since such wheelchair has two footrests. 11.The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said bolt further includesa curved washer for engagement with said rear upright post of suchwheelchair and with a nut for securing said bolt.
 12. The apparatus,according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further coated with amaterial to prevent scratches on the foot rests.